Air conditioning unit



March 22, 1960 J. w. JOACHIM, JR 2,929,223

I AIR CONDITIONING UNIT Filed April 5, 1957 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.Iosawu \N- 'oAcHum 2H2- m (0 ATTORNEYE March 22, 1960 J. w. JOACHIM, JR2,919,223

AIR CONDITIONING UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5. 1957 iii???INVENTOR. crosewu w. TQACHIM :52.

ATTORN EYS March 22, 1960 J. w. JOACHIM, JR 2, 2

AIR CONDITIONING UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 5, 1957 iii - iiiINVENTOR. cH\M 3R.

1" zossbu w-a'eA AFTO RNEYS March 22, 1960 w, M, JR 2,929,223

AIR CONDITIONING UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 5, 1957 United StatesPatent AIR (ZONDITIONING UNIT Joseph W. Joachim, Jr., New Orleans, La.

Application April 5, 1957, Serial No. 650,949

12 Claims. (Cl. 62-171) This invention relates to air conditioningapparatus, and more particularly to an air conditioning plant which mayemploy ice or mechanical refrigeration and which maybe operated eitheras a portable unit or as a stationary unit installed temporarily orpermanently to control the temperature and humidity of a building orother location.

A' main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved airconditioning plant which is simple in construction, which may be readilyadapted for use as a portable unit, and which may be employed either asa temporary emergency installation, where its use is intermittent, or asa permanent installation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved airconditioning plant which is inexpensive to fabricate, which isrelatively compact in size, which is economical in operation, and whichis easy to maintain in operating condition.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved airconditioning plant which is adapted to be employed as a portable unit sothat it may be readily moved to a location where its use is required,which may employ either ice or mechanical refrigeration as its coolingmeans, which is reliable in operation, and which is provided with meansto regulate the proportion of fresh air admitted into the location to beserviced as well as with means automatically regulating same inaccordance with the temperature of the air to be cooled.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claims, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an improved air conditioning plantconstructed in accordance with the present invention and arranged as aportable unit.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken on the line2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken on theline 44.of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view similar to Figure 3 butshowing the apparatus arranged for cooling by mechanical refrigeration.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical cross sectional view similar toFigure 4 but showing the embodiment illustrated in Figure 5 whereinmechanical refrigeration is employed as the cooling means.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4, 11generally designates a portable air conditioning plant constructed inaccordance with the present invention. The air conditioning plant 11comprises a housing 12 mounted on a wheeled frame 13, said frame beingprovided at its forward end with a drawbar 14, whereby the frame may beconnected to a suitable tractor vehicle. Mounted on the forward end ofthe frame 13 is a prime mover 15 which may comprise an internalcombustion engine, or alternatively, may comprise an electric motor,where electric power is available. The output shaft of the prime mover15 is provided with a drive pulley 16 which is coupled by a belt 17 to adriven pulley 18 mounted on a countershaft 19 rotatably supported onsuitablebearing means provided on the frame 13.

The housing 12 is provided at its forward end, as viewed in Figure 1,with a reduced portion 20 in which is mounted an air blower 21 whoseoutlet is connected to a conditioned air discharge duct 22 extendingupwardly and through the top wall of housing 12. Air duct- 22 is adaptedto be connected to a conditioned air supply duct,

shown in dotted view at 23 in Figure 4, for supplying conditioned air toa building or other structure to be serviced.

The blower 21 is provided with a drive pulley 24 which is coupled by abelt 25 to a driving pulley 26 mounted on the counter-shaft 19.

Also mounted on the counter-shaft 19 is a driving pulley 27 which iscoupled by a belt 28 to the drive pulley 29 of a centrifugal water pump30 mounted on the frame 13;

Housing 12 is provided at its rear end, namely at its left end, asviewed in Figures 1 and 4, with a return air inlet duct 31 adapted to beconnected to a suitable,

return air conduit, not shown, for returning depleted air or air to beconditioned from the structure being serviced. Mounted in the duct 31 isa conventional air filter 32 for removing dust or other similarundesirable materialbe manually operated to regulate the angularpositions of the damper members 34, the lever 36 being provided with anarcuate locking sector 37 secured to the side wall 38 of housing 12, thehandle 39 of lever 36 being provided with conventional yieldable detentmeans engaging the serrated arcuate edge of the locking sector 37whereby the shaft 35 may be releasably locked in a desired ad-' justedposition thereof.

As shown in Figure 3, the housing 12 comprises an inner housing 39 whichis spaced inwardly relative to the respective side walls 38 and 40 ofthe main housing 12 to define a pair of fresh air intake ducts 41 and 42which are substantially coextensive in area with the side walls of theinner housing 39. The intake ends of the ducts 41 and 42 are providedwith suitable air filters 43 and 44 and are further provided with dampervanes 45 and 46 mounted on a transversely extending shaft 47 having anexternal control lever 48 similar to the lever 36 and lockinglycooperating With a serrated arcuate locking member 49 secured to theside Wall 38, whereby the shaft 47 may be adjustably secured in the samemanner as the shaft 35.

It will be understood that the vanes 45 and 46 comprise a series ofvertically spaced damper plates which are linked together forsimultaneous rotation so as to regulate the air flow through therespective fresh air ducts 41 and 42, the vanes being controlled by thecommon transverse shaft 47 having the external operating handle 48.

Mounted in the forward portion of the inner housing 39 is a transverselyextending cooling coil unit 49, and mounted between the cooling coilunit 49 and the blower 21 is an air cleansing unit 50 comprising aseries of vertical, parallel bafile plates 51 which are of sinuoushorizontal cross section, as is clearly shown in Figure 3,

the bafiie plates 51 defining sinuous air passages there- Patented Mar.22, 196.0

between the plates is deposited thereon.

The floor of the inner housing 39 comprises a foraminous member 52 ofsuitable apertured material, such as expanded metal or the like, wherebywater is allowed to drain freely through the floor. The inner housing 39is adapted to contain a plurality of blocks of ice 54'which comprise thecooling means employed in this embodiment of the invention.

As shown in Figure 3, the fresh air ducts 41 and 42 are provided withrespective hinged closures 55 and 56 located in the side walls of theinner housing 39, said closures being swingable to open positionsdirected outwardly and rearwardly, as shown'in Figure 3, so as to allowfresh air to enter the forward portion of the inner housing 39. Theclosure members 55 and 56 are mounted on hinged shafts which areinterconnected by respective top and bottom linkages 59 and58, the toplinkage 59 being provided with a bell crank 61 adjacent the side wall 38of the main housing 12. A depending operating handle 62 is rigidlysecured to one of the arms of the bell crank 61, whereby the linkages 53and 59 may be actuated by means of the depending handle 62 to therebycontrol the degree of opening of the closure members 55 and 56.

Secured to the roof 60 of the main housing 12 inside the inner housing39 is a longitudinally extending header 63 to which are connected thelongitudinally spaced laterally extending branch conduits 64. Connectedto the ends of the branch conduits 64 are respective sprinkler nozzles65 which are thus distributed through the inner housing 39. As shown inFigure 3, relatively long branch conduits '64project from the header 63and alternate with relatively short branch conduits 66 also havingsprinkler nozzles 65 connected to their ends, so that the sprinklernozzles 65 are staggered in position longitudinally through the innerhousing 39.

A water supply conduit 67 is connected to the header 63 through anelectro-magnetic valve 68 which is thermostatically controlled, as by atemperature sensing element 69 mounted in the intake end of innerhousing 39. Electro-magnetic valve 68 is suitably energized from asource of'current, such as a battery or the like, not shown, and itsenergization is controlled by the thermostatic element 69 in aconventional manner, whereby the valve 68 opens to a degree inaccordance with the temperature of the intake air, as detected by thesensing element 69, provid ing a larger degree of opening with higherintake air temperature.

The bottom of the inner housing 39 is provided with a water reservoir 70which extends for the entire length and width of the floor of the innerhousing, said reservoir being connected at its folward end .to a conduitmember 7 1 leading to the intake of the water pump 30. The outlet of thewater pump 30 is connected to a conduit 72 leading to the inlet of theair cooling coil unit 49, the outlet of said air cooling coil unit beingconnected to the conduit 67. It is to be noted that the conduit member 71, water pump 30, conduit 72, cooling coil unit 49, conduit 67, andnozzle 65 constitute means connecting the reservoir 70 to the spraynozzles 65.

The floor of the reservoir 70 is formed at the forward portion of theinner housing 39 with 21 depending sump chamber 73 extending asubstantial distance below the remainder of the floor of reservoir 70.Mounted transversely in the reservoir and extending into said sumpchamber 73 are the vertical partitionplates 75, 75 which extend from theforaminous floor -52 to the-lower portion of the sump chamber 73,terminating a short distance from the bottom of said sump chamber,whereby the sump chamber isin communication with the reservoir70 butwhereby an enclosure 76 is defined between the plates 75, 75, saidenclosure extending across the entire transverse width of thewaterreservoir 70. An overflow pipe 77 is connected to the reservoir 70 inthe enclosure '76 4 and at its upper portion, as shown in Figure 4,establishing the maximum water level in the reservoir 70.

Mounted in the enclosure 76 is a cylindrical shield tube 78 whichsurrounds a vertical float member 79 and which serves as a verticalguide means to allow said float member 79-to move vertically responsiveto changes in the Water level in reservoir 70 and to protect said floatmember against excessive swaying .or deviation from its verticalposition.

Designated at 80 is a bypass conduit which is connected to the watersupply conduit 67 and which extends vertically downwardly into the upperportion of the enclosure 76, as shown in Figure 4, the conduit 80'beingconnected to the conduit 67 ahead of the valve 68, as by a T-fitting 81.It is to be noted that the by-pass conduit 80 which is connected to thespray nozzle 65 through the conduit 67 and has the lower end extendinginto the upper portion of the enclosure 76 constitutes means connectingthe upper portion of the enclosure 76 to the spray nozzle" 65.The'conduit 80 includes a valve means or rotary valve 82 which is linked'by an arm 83 and rod 84 to the float 79, whereby the valve 82 iscontrolled by the position of the float 79,, namely, by the water levelin the reservoir 70. Float member 79 opens valve 82 when the water levelin the reservoir 70 drops below a predetermined height, thus admittingrelatively warm water to the reservoir through the bypass conduit 80 tomaintain a substantially constant water level in the reservoir -70.

The thermostatic valve 68 regulates the amount of water supplied to thenozzles 65 in accordance with the temperature of the return air enteringhousing 39 through the intake duct 31, more water being supplied to thenozzles 65 when the return air is at a high temperature. The water fromthe nozzles 65 'is sprayed on the ice blocks 54, causing melting of theice, the melted ice and water draining into the reservoir 70. The bafiieplates 75, keep the cooler water in the lower portion of the sump 73,allowing only the warmer water to escape through the overflow conduit77. i

-In operation, return air enters the inner housing 39 through the spacebetween the louvers or dampers 34 and passes through the inner housingover the ice blocks 54 and throughthe water sprays from the nozzles 65.Fresh air enters the conduit passages 41 and 42 between the spacesdefined by the spaced damper members 45 and 46 and enters the forwardportion of the inner housing 39 through the openings adjacent theclosure members 55 and 56.

The filters 43 and 44 serve to cleanse the fresh air entering thepassages 41 and 42. Obviously, said filters may be omitted where only asmall amount of fresh air is introduced into the system. 7 i

The air in inner housing 39 passes through the cooling coil 49 andthrough the cleansing unit 50 wherein theair is relievedvof moisture, asabove described. The air then passes into the housing portion 20 andinto the blower 21, which forces the air upwardly through the duct 22into the conditioned air supply duct 23, where it is delivered to thebuilding or other structure to be serviced. The ratio of fresh air toreturn air is regulated by the relative adjustment of respective sets ofdampers 34 45, 46.

As will be readily apparent, water from the sprinkler nozzles 65 andfrom the melting ice blocks 54 drains through the apertured floor 52into the reservoir 70, the maximum level of the water in the reservoirbeing determined by the overflow pipe 77. The water from the reservoir70 is forced into the conduit 72 by the pump 30 and passes through thecooling coil unit 49, where it gains heat from the passage of the airtherethrough under the suction provided by the blower 21. The waterleaves the cooling coil unit 49 at its maximum temperature and at-itsupper ends, passing into the conduit 67. The water passes through the Tconnection 81 and through the thermostatically controlled valve 68 tothe header 63 and:

76, in'accordance with the level of the water in the reser-.

voir 70, which acts on the float member 79. As will be readily apparent,the water escaping through the overflow pipe 77 is relatively warm,since the water in the upper part of enclosure 76 is derived mainly fromthe bypass conduit 80, which receives water at its maximum temperaturefrom the conduit 67. Thus, the colder water, for example, the waterderived from the melting of the ice blocks 54, flows only through thelower portion of the sump chamber 73 and thence passes to the forwardportion of reservoir 70 and is circulated through pump 30 and throughthe cooling coil unit 49 to the conduit 67 before it can reach theoverflow pipe 77. Thus, it will be readily apparent that the provisionof the partition members 75, 75, defining the sump enclosure 76, and thelocation of the overflow opening in the upper portion of said enclosure,as shown in Figure 4, prevents the premature loss of the colder waterand insures that only the relatively warm water is discarded as thewater level in the reservoir 70 reaches its limiting height.

The sensing unit'69 maybe arranged adjacent the return-air intakeconduit 31, as illustrated in the drawings, when the primary objectiveis temperature control. When humidity control is the primary objective,the sensing unit 69 may be located between the blower 21 and the coolingcoil unit 49.

. One side wall of the inner housing 39 may be provided with a suitablehinged door 86, and the side wall 40 of the main housing may be providedwith a similar hinged door 87 registering with the hinged door 86,whereby the doors 86 and 87 may be opened to provide access to theinterior of the inner housing 39, for example, to insert ice blocks 54therein. Since the ice blocks are located in the actual air coolingspace inside the inner housing 39, there is no necessity for an ice pitor sep arate ice tank. This reduces the cost of the apparatus, as wellas provides a saving in space.

As will be further apparent, a constant flow of air and water isobtained by the flow of chilled water, through i the cooling coil 49 andthen through the spray nozzles 65 while the air passes from the spraychamber to the coil section. This provides a high efliciency of heattransfer from the air to the water. Furthermore, the water to the spraynozzles 65 is warmer than it would be if no cooling coil units 49 wereemployed, whereby the ice is melted more rapidly, increasing thecapacity of a given size of apparatus.

As above pointed out, there is no flow of water to the overflow pipe 77while the apparatus is in operation, except that of warm water from theupper part of the sump enclosure 76. Cold water can only enter the sumpchamber 73 under the bafile plates 75, and since the cold water isheavier than the Warm Water, it will not tend to rise inside theenclosure 76, but will instead flow toward the pump inlet pipe 71. Onlythe warmer water in the upper portion of the sump enclosure 76 will bediscarded, even when the valve 82 is closed.

It will be further apparent that the amount of insulation required inthe apparatus is considerably reduced by allowing the fresh air tocirculate in the passages 41 and 42 between the side walls of the innerhousing 39 and the outer housing of the unit. While the fresh air losesheat to the inner housing 39, the temperature difierence between thefresh air and the ambient temperature is always less than that betweenthe side walls of the inner housing 39 and the ambient temperature.Therefore, less thickness of insulating material is required because .ofthe insulating action of the fresh air passages 41 and 42; i

When the sensing element 6,9 is positioned as shown in the drawings,namely, adjacent the return air intake conduit 31, the quantity of wateradmitted to the spray nozzles 65 is regulated so as to maintain apredetermined return air temperature. When the cooling load isrelatively light, less water will flow, but the spray chambertemperature will not vary appreciably. The temperature may be set lowenough to condense a greater quantity of volatile gases from the returnair when the equipment is used for air conditioning locations containingsuch volatile gases, or in other hazardous locations.

When the sensing element 69 is located at the downstream side of thecooling coil, it will regulate the temperature of the saturated airadmitted to the conditioned area, and humidity may be effectivelycontrolled thereby.

Obviously, the apparatus may be employed either as a temporary orpermanent unit, and when it is employed as a stationary unit, thewheeled frame 13 may be replaced by any suitable stationary support.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, mechanicalrefrigeration is employed in place of the ice blocks of Figures 1 to 4,and therefore an evaporating coil unit is provided in the reservoir 70to cool the water therein. Refrigerant is furnished in the Well knownmanner to the evaporating coil unit 90 by a refrigeration compressor 91mounted on the frame 13 and driven from the prime mover 15, which may beeither an electric motor, or an internal combustion engine, as abovementioned, the compressor shaft being directly coupled to the countershaft 19. The evaporator unit 90 is provided with the usual expansionvalve 92 controlled by a temperature sensing bulb 93 in a conventionalmanner.

As in the previously described form of the invention, the colder watertends to circulate past the bottom edges of the baflle members 75 to thepump 30 and thence through the cooling coil unit 49 to conduit 67. Thewarmer water is maintained in the upper portion of the sump enclosure 76and overflow of only the warmer water can take place, since the overflowpipe 77 communicates only with the upper portion of the sump enclosure76, as in the previously described form of the invention. A suitablewater supply source, not shown, may be connected to the reservoir 70, tofurnish replacement water to the system if replenishment by condensationis insufficient.

The same advantages apply to the form of the invention shown in Figures5 and 6, as pointed out above in connection with the form of theinvention of Figures 1 to 4. Thus, with an elevated spray watertemperature, a greater mean effective temperature diiference between thewater and the refrigerating medium in the submerged evaporating coilunit 90 is maintained.

=While certain specific embodiments of an improved air conditioningapparatus have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will beunderstood that various modifications within the spirit of the inventionmay occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that nolimitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an air conditioning plant, a housing, return air inlet means atone end of the housing, an air discharge blower connected to the otherend of the housing and being formed and arranged to dischargeconditioned air from said other end of the housing, a water reservoir inthe bottom of the housing containing a quantity of water, means to coolthe Water, a spray nozzle mounted in the upper portion of the housing,conduit means connecting said reservoir to said spray nozzle, a pump insaid conduit means, a depending sump chamber in the floor of saidreservoir, partition means in said sump chamber defining an enclosuretherein communicating with the .reservoir only at-the lower portion ofthesump chamber, said reservoir being foimdwith an overflow aperture inthe upper portion of said enclosure, 'and a bypass conduit connectedbetween said conduit means and the upper portion of said enclosure.

2. In an air conditioning plant, a housing, return air inlet means atone end of the housing, an air discharge blower connected to the otherend of the housing and being formed and arranged to dischargeconditioned air trom said other end of the housing, a water reservoir inthe bottom of the housing containing a quantity of water, means to coolthe water, a spray nozzle mounted in the upper portion of the housing,conduit means connecting said reservoir to said spray nozzle, a pump insaid conduit means, a dependingsump chamber in the floor of saidreservoir, means in the sump chamber defining an enclosure thereincommunicating with the reservoir only at the lower portion of the sumpchamber, and a bypass conduit connected between said conduit means andthe upper portion of said enclosure.

3. In an air conditioning plant, a housing, return air ins let means atone end of the housing, an air dischargeblowor connected to the otherend of thehousing and being formed and arranged to discharge conditionedair from said other end of the housing, a water reservoirin the bottomof the housing containing a quantity of water, means to cool the water,a spray nozzle mounted in the upper portion of the housing, conduitmeans connecting said reservoir to said spray nozzle, a pump in saidconduit means, a depending sump chamber in the floor of said reservoir,means in said sump chamber defining an enclosure therein communicatingwith the reservoir only at the lower portion of the sump chamber, abypass conduit connected between said conduit means and the upperportion of said enclosure, and means defining fresh air intake ductscoextensive with and located at the opposite sides of said housing, saidducts communicating with the interior of the housing ahead of saidblower.

4. In an air conditioning plant, a housing, return air inlet means atone end of the housing, an air discharge blower connected to the otherend of the housing and being formed and arranged to dischargeconditioned air from said other end of the housing, a water reservoir inthe bottom of the housing containing aquantity of water, means to coolthe water, a spray nozzle mounted in the upper portion of the housing,conduit means connecting said reservoir to said spray nozzle, a pump insaid conduit means, a depending sump chamber in the floor of saidreservoir, means in said sump chamber defining an enclosure thereincommunicating with the reservoir only at the lower portion of the sumpchamher, said reservoir being formed with an overflow aperture in theupper portion of said enclosure, means dofining fresh air intakeducts-coextensive with and located at the opposite sides ofsaid'housing, said ducts communicating with the interior of the housingahead of said blower, a bypass conduit connected between said conduitmeans and the upper portion of said enclosure, and means regulating theflow of water through saidbypass conduit in accordance with the depth ofwater in said reservorr.

5. In an air conditioning plant, a housing, return air inlet means atone end of the housing, an air discharge blower connected to the otherend of the housing and being formed and arranged to dischargeconditioned air from said other end of the housing, a water reservoir inthe bottom of the housing containing a quantity of water, means to coolthe water, a spray nozzle mounted in the upper portion of the housing,conduit means connecting said reservoir to said spray nozzle, a pump insaid conduit means, a depending sump chamber'in the floor of saidreservoir, means in said sump chamber defining an enclosure thereincommunicating with the reservoir only at the lower portion of the sumpchamber, said reservoir being formed with an overflow tapertureiintheand meansoperating said valve means in accordance with the temperatureof the air entering said return a ir iul et means. 7

' 6. In an air conditioning plant, a housing, return air inlet means atone end of the housing, an air discharge blower connected to the otherend of the housing and being formed and arranged to dischargeconditioned from said other end of the housing, a water reservoir in thebottom of the housing containing a quantity of water, means to cool thewater, a spray nozzle mounted in the upper portion of the housing,conduit means co n nectiug said reservoir to said spray nozzle, a pumpinsaid conduit means, a cooling coil mounted in the housing between saiddischarge blower and said spray nozzle and connected in said conduitmeans, a plurality of spaced parallel, vertical bafile plates sinuous inhorizontal cross section mounted in the housing between said coolingcoil and .said discharge blower, a depending sump chamber in the floorof the said rservoir, transverse, longitudinally spaced partition meansin said sump chamber defining an enclosure therein communicating withthe reservoir only at the lower portion of the sump chamber, saidreservoir being formed with an overflow aperture in the upper portion ofsaid enclosure, and a bypass conduit connected between said conduitmeans and the upper portion of said enclosure. I w

7. In an air conditioning plant, a housing, return air inlet means atone end of the housing, an 'air discharge blower connected to the otherend of the housing and being formed and arranged to dischargeconditioned air from said other end of the housing, awater reservoir inthe bottom of the housing containing a quantity of water, means to coolthe water, a spray nozzlemounted in the upper portion of the housing,conduit means connecting said reservoir to said spray nozzle, a pump insaid conduit means, a cooling coil mounted in the housing between saiddischarge blower and said spray nozzle and connected in said conduitmeans, a pluarality of spaced parallel, vertical, baifle plates sinuousin horizontal cross section, mounted in the housing between said coolingcoil and said discharge blower, a depending sump chamber in the floor ofsaid reservoir, transverse, longitudinally spaced partition means insaid sump chamber defining an enclosure therein communicating with thereservoir only at the lower portion of the sump chamber, said reservoirbeing formed with an overflow aperturein the upper portion of saidenclosure, means defining fresh-air intake ducts coextensive with andlocated at the opposite sides of said housing, said ducts communicatingwith the interior of the housing ahead of said blower, abypass conduitconnected between said conduit means and the upper portion of saidenclosure, means regulating the flow of water through said bypassconduit in accordance with the depth of water in said reservoir, valvemeans in said conduit means, and means operating said valve means inaccordance with the temperature of the air entering said return airinlet means.

8. A portable air conditioning plant comprising a wheeled housing,return air inlet means at one end of the housing, a blower connected tothe other end of the housing and being "formed and arranged to dischargethe conditioned air therefrom after it has traveled through the housing,a reservoirin the bottom of the housing containing a quantity of water,means to cool the water, a plurality of spray nozzles mounted in theupper portion of the housing and spaced longitudinally therealong, meansconnecting said reservoir to said spray nozzles, a sump chamber in thebottom of said reservoir, means in the sump chamber defining anenclosure therein communicating with the reservoir only at the lowerportion of the sump chamber, means connecting the upper :portion of saidenclosure tosaid spraynozzles.

9. A portable air conditioning plant comprising a wheeled housing,return air inlet means at one end of the housing, a blower connected tothe other end of the housing and being formed and arranged to dischargethe conditioned air therefrom after it has traveled through the housing,a reservoir in the bottom of the housing containing a quantity of water,means to cool the water, a plurality of spray nozzles mounted in theupper portion of the housing and spaced longitudinally therealong, meansconnecting said reservoir to said spray nozzles, a sump chamber in thebottom of said reservoir, means in the sump chamber defining anenclosure therein cornmunicating with the reservoir only at the lowerportion of the sump chamber, means connecting the upper portion of saidenclosure to said spray nozzles, valve means in said enclosureconnecting means, and means operating said valve means in accordancewith the water level in the enclosure.

10. A portable air conditioning plant comprising a wheeled housing,return air inlet means at one end of the housing, a blower connected tothe other end of the housing and being formed and arranged to dischargethe conditioned air therefrom after it has traveled through the housing,a reservoir in the bottom of the housing containing a quantity of water,means to cool the water, a sump chamber of substantial depth in thefloor of said first-named reservoir, vertical baffle means mounted insaid sump chamber and extending from the top of said first-namedreservoir to a level adjacent to but spaced from the bottom of the sumpchamber, said baflie means defining a water enclosure extending for theentire transverse width of the first-named reservoir, an overflow outletin the upper portion of said water enclosure, a plurality of spraynozzles mounted in the upper portion of the housing and spacedlongitudinally therealong, means formed and arranged to circulate thewater from said reservoir to said spray nozzles, and bypass conduitmeans formed and arranged to direct a portion of the water from saidcirculating means to said water enclosure before the water reaches thespray nozzles.

11. A portable air conditioning plant comprising a wheeled housing,return air inlet means at one end of the housing, a blower connected tothe other end of the housing and being formed and arranged to dischargethe conditioned air therefrom after it has traveled through the housing,a reservoir in the bottom of the housing containing a quantity of water,means to cool the water, a sump chamber of substantial depth in thefloor of said first-named reservoir, vertical baflie means mounted insaid sump chamber and extending from the top of said first-namedreservoir to a level adjacent to but spaced from the bottom of the sumpchamber, said baffle means defining a water enclosure extending for theentire transverse width of the first-named reservoir, an overflow outletin the upper portion of said water enclosure, a float member in saidwater enclosure, a plurality of spray nozzles mounted in the upperportion of the housing and spaced longitudinally therealong, meansformed and arranged to circulate thewater from said reservoir to saidspray nozzles, bypass conduit means formed and arranged to direct Waterfrom said circulating means to said water enclosure before the waterreaches the spray nozzles, and a valve in said bypass conduit meanscoupled to said float member and being formed and arrangedto control theamount of water diverted through said bypass conduit means in accordancewith the water levei in said firstnamed reservoir.

12. A portable air conditioning plant comprising a wheeledltousingreturn air inlet means at one end of the housing, a blowerconnected to the other end of the housing and being formed and arrangedto discharge the conditioned air therefrom after it has traveled throughthe housing, a reservoir in the bottom of the housing containing aquantity of water, means to cool the water, a sump chamber ofsubstantial depth in the floor of said first-named reservoir, verticalbafile means mounted in said sump chamber and extending from the top ofsaid first-named reservoir to a level adjacent to but spaced from thebottom of the sump chamber, said baffle means defining a water enclosureextending for the entire transverse width of the first-named reservoir,an overflow outlet in the upper portion of said water enclosure, aplurality of spray nozzles mounted in the upper portion of the housingand spaced longitudinally therealong, a transversely arranged,vertically mounted cooling coil in the housing adjacent said floor,means formed and arranged to circulate the water from said reservoir tosaid spray nozzles through said cooling coil, a plurality of vertical,relatively closely spaced parallel bafile plates mounted in the housingbetween the cooling coil and the blower, said battle plates beingsinuous in horizontal cross section and defining sinuous passagestherebetween adapted to reduce the moisture content of air passingtherethrough, auxiliary fresh air intake means extending along and beingsubstantially co-extensive with the opposite side walls of the housingand leading to the intake of said blower, respective adjustable dampermeans in said air inlet means and in said auxiliary fresh air intakemeans for adjusting the relative proportions of retum air and fresh airreaching the blower intake, at float member in said water enclosure,bypass conduit means formed and arranged to divert Water from saidcirculating means to said water enclosure before the water reaches thespray nozzles, and a valve in said bypass conduit means coupled to saidfloat member and being formed and arranged to control the amount ofwater diverted through said bypass conduit means in accordance with thewater level in said firstnamed reservoir.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS CrouchDec. 15, 1942

